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* Jason Meisner and Joe Mahr at the Tribune…
Joseph Palumbo went to federal prison two decades ago for fraud involving his family’s century-old construction business, which at the time had a hand in building virtually every major expressway in Chicago.
Now another firm connected to Palumbo is at the center of federal bribery charges filed this week as part of a sprawling political corruption probe, the Chicago Tribune has learned.
According to the indictment, political operative William Helm paid off then-Democratic state Sen. Martin Sandoval in 2018 in exchange for his help advancing a development in East Dundee on behalf of an unidentified construction firm referred to only as Company A.
The company was seeking approval from the Illinois Department of Transportation for a traffic signal and road construction as part of the project and hired Helm, a former IDOT manager, as a consultant, the charges alleged.
Helm then paid at least $5,000 in bribes over five months to Sandoval, who at the time was chairman of the influential Senate Transportation Committee, to help win IDOT approval for Company A, the charges stated.
While the two-page indictment does not name the company, sources told the Chicago Tribune it is controlled by Palumbo. Business and land records show Palumbo controls two firms involved in the development. Palumbo Management LLC, oversees the development while the other, PAL LLC, owns the land.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 8:33 am
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Previous Post: Rep. Jones rattled by attacks
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In what world can somebody convicted of construction fraud ever be allowed near a state contract? That is like DCFS allowing registered sex offenders to be foster parents.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 8:57 am
Palumbo’s companies were permanently barred from any public work, back in the mid-1990s, but can still pursue privately-funded work.
Comment by Ares Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 9:21 am
Thanks Ares,
Glad to know it is not a State contract. Not happy that bribery and corruption still find a way.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 9:26 am
The Earth Still Moves With Palumbo
Comment by DuPage Saint Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 9:31 am
Orange crush back in the day.
Comment by BobCL Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 10:01 am
Leininger Mid-States back in the day.
Comment by bogey golfer Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 10:06 am
Hard to imagine how a nice guy like Bill Helm got connected with people like Palumbo. Just kidding. It’s not too hard to imagine, and I’m sure the feds are way ahead of me. Who introduced Helm to these guys? How did this company learn of Helm’s rather unique skill set?
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 11:07 am
Palumbo appears to be the corporate version of Freddy Krueger—just when you think it is gone, you find out it’s still out there.
Comment by Bourbon Street Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 11:35 am
Orange Crush is only barred from Federal and State funded projects - including MFT. They can, and have only survived, on locally funded projects. And, by most accounts, are behaving - they kinda hafta or they’d never be able to survive on just parking lots.
Comment by Proud Sucker Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 12:33 pm
I can’t get the google to help me on this one. How is he related to the palumbo daughter who was convicted of murder many years ago? What was her name?
Comment by Soccermom Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 3:51 pm
@47th ward - maybe O’Connor introduced them. You know O’Connor was close to Roti and had Mary Ann Roti on his staff. But I’m sure you know all about that….
Comment by That OEIG Monday, Mar 9, 20 @ 4:14 pm